Compliance to rabies immunoglobulin in post-exposure prophylaxis of category III animal bite cases attending antirabies clinic of government tertiary care hospital, Solapur, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Background: In India since 1985, every year 25000-50000 human rabies deaths have been reported which accounted for 60% of global mortality. The rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) in particular are life-saving in severe (WHO category III) rabies exposures, Hence present study with objectives to assess treatment compliance of rabies immunoglobulin in animal bite cases and to study reason behind not taking RIG is undertaken.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among all 460 WHO category III animal bite cases attending ARV clinic at government tertiary care hospital, Solapur during the month of March 2016. After obtaining verbal informed consent, a predesigned questionnaire was used, the assessment of treatment compliance of RIG was considered by asking and confirming with hospital records, those  couldn’t  traced were contacted by using telephone survey method. Data was analysed by using statistical software SPSS 16.0 version.

Results: A total 460 category III  animal bite victims were interviewed from ARV clinic, 80.4% cases were completed rabies immunoglobulin treatment as compared to 19.6% defaulted RIG. The majority of cases were males 68.5%, children ≤15years were 33.5%, 75.0% from urban area, 77% cases belongs to below poverty line category, 35.9% had bite mark on left lower limb. The main animals responsible for bites were dogs (95.2%). The predominant reason behind not taking RIG was lack of money (67.7%).

Conclusions: The present study showed maximum compliance to rabies immunoglobulin in Category III animal bite cases however economic constrain was prime hurdle followed by small injury in not taking RIG.